Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1887-05-15

CHAPTER XIII.
When the Major had lifted Stella upon
the back of the plunging steed of Lag
ona, and loosened it's rein, and himself
mounted, he whispered another word or
two of hope and encouragement in her
ear, and then headed the frightened ami
nal for the gorge. Wildly it bounded on
the guard fires marking and lighting the
way, while the terrified sentinels either
shrunk back from the path or fell upon
their faces helpless with terror.
At pace which, with a horse unused
tC the peTilous path, he never would have
dared to keep, Mccullough Numbered
through the gorge, firing one of his pis-
tolls as q signal when he neared the spot
where he knew he would meet his own
men; and in as little time-ay, less
than have taken to describe it, he was
out upon the free prairie, and bounding
toward his own little camp.
The next moment Stella was in the
arms of his father and Paul, weeping and
sobbing for Joy, while the Major, without
pausing to remove the paint from his per-
son, was hurriedly putting on the gar
ments which he laid off when he under
took his adventure.
ooh, major, what do we not owe you?
My life, my whole plantation, shall be
yours" cried Mr. DeIorme.
"YOu'u lose the first and never reach
the last if you stop here for talking"
said the major and he ordered one of his
men to bring his own horse. "You can
still ride the white, Miss Stella" he said.
she must be tired with his long Journey;
but you are light weight and he must
carry you. l will keep a hand on his
rein"
The rangers now quickly gathered to
the side Of their leader.
"Mount, men, mount and away! We
must put many league between this
spot and where We are at daylight; for
we'll have thousands upon our trail.
Loose reins and busy spUrs-keep close,
and follow mel" he cried.
With Stella on the swift horse of La
gona, the majors hand upon it's rein, and
Der father and Paul riding close by her
side, the gallant band now swept away
swiftly, and in siIence-utterlng no
shouts, speaking no wOrds-the hoOfs of
their horses scarce making 8 sound upon
the grassy earth. On, On-Iike 8 black
shadow sweeping over the face of the
earth-they passed, leaving the rushing
Pho PecOs and the gloomy hills of the
Charrate far in their rear.
The rescue had been effected. And
never in tale Of ancient chiValry, never in
record. of belted knighthood, never in
history of modern bravery, had the story
Of more daring deed been found, never
greater peril met, or more CALAMITY over
come, than there and tnen.
1t was a long time before Lagona could
= tod
vice; and when, ct last, he led them
through the gorge, the day was dawning.
He rode to the spot where the rangers
had encamped; but only the smoldering
embers of their fires were left to show
that they had been there, and had been
gone for hours.
With bitter look of anger and disap-
pointment, Lagona, st the head of over
thousand warriors, took their trail. His
horses were feet and fresh, and he felt no
doubt that he would Overtake them.
Therefore, urging his horse to it's ut
most speed, he led the way, followed by
his now treasured WarriOrs-WhO, as
they rode on seemed to forget the terrors
Of the night in the hope of the scalps
which the trail they followed promised to
so large a body.
CHAPTER XIII.
The rangers and those whom they es-
COrted kept on until the blue of dawn be-
gan to tighten the blaCkness of night,
without for a moment Iessening their
speed; but when light came, and they
could see about them, the Major began
to spare his horses, so as not utterly to
break their wind and render them useless
in case of a forced encounter on the
prairie.
In the rear, far away, could still be
seen the black, rough hills of the Char
rate, and in the distant eastern horizon
the fringe of trees could be distinguished
which marked the spot where they cap
tured Malerson and MS gang.
"Do you think that we will be pur-
sued?' asked Mr.. Delorme of the Major.
''Yes," was the reply "probably not
till daylight; but surely then would such
q warrior as Lagona take our trial. He
has probably by this time seen the lassO
which helped me down the mountain and
found the knife which l dropped when l
cut his horse loose from the picket, and
understands what kind of devil he had
in his camp last night. l can't help
laughing when l remember how the red
Wretches dropped and scattered and hid
their heads when l dashed in among
them; nVe hundred OF my rangers with
their six-shooters in hand never would
have begun to terrify them so. Even
Lagona, whom we all know to be as brave
as lion, fell to the earth, and, wrapping
his head in his blanket, lay and trembled
when I passed over him. When l rode
through the gorge some of the senti-
nels jumped into .Water-some dropped
as if they were shot. Amore frightened
set OF curses never saw before and
never expect to see again while live.
shall laugh about it till Pm white-headed
with age, if Pm so unfortunate as to live
that long. Lsgona will never forgive me
for his fright. If he were our prisoner he
would kill himself in very shame"
And the brave, noble hearted Major
laughed loud and long as he thought of
the ludicrous terror of the Indians.
"I should have been as much terrified
as they were had such a looking figure
come upon me in the night, and L not
aware of what it Was," said Mr.. Delorme.
"Your daughter was not terrified in the
least" said the Major. "She made
scarce a breath of outcrY when she saw
me, and was as silent as mouse when l
took her up to bring heI off,"